Exploring The Writing Styles of Dune: Herbert’s Technique

Frank Herbert wrote 6 books in the original Dune series (listed below). Sadly, he died before completing the series’s last planned novel. His son Brian Herbert and co-writer Kevin Anderson finished the job and added 15 more books to the universe, including prequels and recordings of specific events such as the Butlerian Jihad (see my post The Complete Timeline of Dune for more information on these events). However, due to the varying authors, there is a difference in the writing styles of Dune.

By Frank Herbert:

By Brian Herbert & Kevin Anderson:

Prelude to Dune series:
Legends of Dune series:
The Dune sequels:
- Hunters of Dune (2006)
- Sandworms of Dune (2007)
Heroes of Dune series:
- Paul of Dune (2008)
- The Winds of Dune (2009)
Great Schools of Dune series:
The Caladan Trilogy series:

Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson also created multiple graphic novels that I did not include in this list.

Analysis

Many people have read the entire 21-novel franchise. However, I only read the original six books. I am planning to read the others eventually!

Brian Herbert used his father’s notes as a foundation for the subsequent novels; however, the underlying writing style is different. Whereas original author Frank Herbert emphasizes underlying ethics, relationships, and societal issues, his son Brian uses action to drive the plot.

However, if you keep in mind the following series was written by a different author and do not expect exact copies of the original writing style, I am sure the books are fantastic. Some people even like Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson’s novels more than the original series; it all depends on personal preference!

Check out more Dune posts!